Summary

                                                                

A SUMMARY OF THE DOCUMENT PROVIDENTISSIMUS DEUS

                                                            By: Nwabuisi JohnPaul

The God of providence restores man to his original identity, by making known to him, through supernatural means the hidden mysteries of His Divinity. This is made explicit in supernatural revelation which is contained in written Books and unwritten tradition that all may come to know him with facility, certainty, and safely from error. They are sacred and canonical because they are inspired by the Holy Spirit and we have God for their author. This is the belief held by the church from antiquity concerning the veracity of the Holy Scriptures. Thus, the church holds the Holy Scriptures with high reverence and regard.

Since the Holy Scriptures is of premium dignity, branches of study as regards Holy Scriptures are important as they are concerned with the defense and elucidation of the Holy Scriptures. So, the supreme pontiff Leo XIII lauds the efforts of sacred theologians, men and women who devote themselves to study and interpretation of scripture. He also prays for an increase in number especially in Holy Orders that they may daily display great austerity, meditation, and explanation of the Holy Scriptures.

HOLY SCRIPTURE MOST PROFITABLE TO DOCTRINE AND MORALITY

The purpose of the Holy Scriptures is to instruct in justice, to reprove, to correct, that the man of God may be perfect, furnished in every good work. This is made explicit in the life of Jesus who used the scriptures to teach the people and his disciples and guard them against false teachings of the Sadducees, Pharisees and Satan when he dares to tempt them. The apostles in consonance with this lifestyle of Jesus, used it to spread the wisdom of Christianity and conquer the obstinacy of the Jews and stop the outbreak of heresy. This is evident in the New Testament as they have in them Old Testament citations. Thus, our arms of warfare are not carnal but scriptural; we are to approach this great arsenal of heavenly arms with reverence. As regards church doctrines on faith and morals we see many references in the scripture making us realize the importance of virtues and the promise of an eternal reward.

The Holy Scripture is power because it arises from the inspiration of the Holy Ghost who is living fire. The Holy Scripture pierces the heart of man, and all those who speak with the scriptures speak with power, hence we are not to rely solely on our own reasoning when we preach. This was well known to the church fathers and they always made use of the fruits of Holy Scriptures. This is crystal clear in their writings as we see them apply the passages of scriptures. The document cites admonitions of some church fathers about zeal and love for the Holy Scriptures. The goal of the Holy Scripture is to bring salvation to those preached to and to the preacher. This can only be achieved by humble payer and guarded by Holiness of life.

WHAT THE BIBLE OWES TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

The church as the custodian of these divine mysteries ensures that these mysteries are not laid to waste. The church urges that the Holy Scriptures are used in feeding the people of God, the Holy Scriptures should be read, and meditated upon by the ministers in the daily office and competent persons should be schooled in expounding and interpretation of the Holy Scriptures.

Pope Leo XIII applauds the efforts of various church fathers who gave deep attention to Holy Scriptures. He began by taking into cognizance the efforts of the church fathers; from the eastern and western Rite of which he singles out the likes of Origen, St. Augustine, St. Jerome, and the greatest of them all St. Thomas Aquinas. He explains that they drew faith, strength, and unction from the word of God which they used in the defense of the Catholic faith, which serve as commentaries, and catechesis of the faith.

To this scholastics, Popes, men and women, the Pope avers that we owe to them the accurate and clear distinction on the obscure passages of the sacred volume. With the employment of modern means and appliances and by their own genius and learning, not only added to the rich stories of ancient times, but prepared the way for succeeding centuries to develop methods to counter the weapons of rationalism, sciences and philology.

HOW TO STUDY HOLY SCRIPTURE

The Pope first of all cites the enemies of scripture who poison the minds of the ignorant masses to opposed and treat Holy Scriptures with contempt. Hence, every pastor should stir up in the heart of the people a zeal to challenge this opposition and stop the spread of this false teachings. This can only be done through studying the Holy Scripture. The Pope urges that appointment of professors of Sacred Scripture in Seminaries and Academical Institutions should be done carefully. Also, young men of good promise too can be set aside for study of scripture, thus the Pope gives some procedures on how to teach scriptures.

The Professor is to give an introduction to the Bible wherein the young beginners are trained to defend the sacred writing, refute objections and interpret for the advantage of religion and piety. Nonetheless, a knowledge of Greek, Hebrew, and Latin are essential for proper understanding of what the authors or writers said.

HOLY SCRIPTURE AND THEOLOGY: INTERPRETATION; THE FATHERS

This involves an application of scripture in masters of Theology. However, the church is a guide in the interpretation of scripture laid down by apostolic succession. This is because the sacred writings are hidden in a certain religious obscurity. Stemming from this fact, the Church encourages biblical science but the Church protects it from error. However, credit is given to the private student who works valuably but interprets the scripture according to the universal Magisterium and defend them from hostile attack. Any interpretation that is at variance with the doctrine of the church and makes the sacred writers disagree with one another is foolish.

So, a professor of scriptures should be familiar with the whole circle of Theology and commentaries of the Holy Fathers. This is the principle that guided the ancient fathers as they understood the Holy Scriptures from the writings and authority of the ancient Fathers in direct line from the Apostles. Therefore, the expositor must follow the footsteps of the Church Father.

Students are allowed to surpass the efforts of the Church fathers inasmuch as their study does not contradict their efforts. They are also allowed to use the works of non-Catholics, but with prudence for the truth of Holy Scriptures is found incorrupt in the Church. In the whole teaching of Theology, theology is not superior to the word of God, rather theology is the handmaid of the word of God for theology receives its principles direct from God by revelation. Care must be given to beginners to ensure that they study the Bible well prepared and furnished as against the labored erudition of the rationalist.

THE AUTHORITY OF HOLY SCRIPTURE: MODERN CRITICISM; PHYSICAL SCIENCE.

This involves a sustenance and maintenance of the teaching authority of the Church against the challenges and criticism of the modern world. Firstly, we acknowledge the sacred records as human documents from which can be clearly proved, as from primitive and authentic testimony. Hence pastors must equip themselves to defend these truths against hostile assaults; solely by trusting in God and application to modern methods of attack as attested to by St. John Chrysostom.

The first means to counter such modern criticisms is the study of oriental languages. Students and those who wish to profess sacred literature should have a good grasp of the language in which the bible was written. The second means is that the Professor must acquire a knowledge of natural science to able to know when people intend to hold the sacred writers in a mistake or vilify its contents. Failure to do this stirs the corruption of morality and the young minds.

Some statements of the Holy Fathers or of recent interpreters may not be applicable in our time, since they have expressed the ideas in their own time, it should be noted that statements which are intimately connected with faith should not be abandoned. But, those outside the dogma of faith could give rise to divergent views.

INSPIRATION INCOMPATIBLE WITH ERROR

There are some persons and institutions who make effort to weaken the authority of the scripture to find mistakes or claim that the sacred writers have erred. It is true that the copyist have made mistakes in the text of the Bible, but it is very wrong to narrow inspiration to certain parts of Holy Scripture or admit that the sacred writer has erred. In cases of ambiguity in a passage, good hermeneutical methods should be employed. Thus, it is not possible that the inspired books should be compatible with error, since God himself is its author and is truth. This fact is defined by the church fathers especially in the council of Florence and of Trent and confirmed by the Council of Vatican.

Those who hold that the sacred books have errors in them only pervert the Catholic doctrine. Thus, the Pope prays that numbers of defenders may surpass that of its enemies especially by employing science in explaining of the faith. This way, they would make use of their talents, wisdom and riches to safeguard the treasure of his revealed doctrine.

CONCLUSION

The Holy Father encourages that all Biblical scholars should keep to these principles laid out in this document. People are to seek the efforts of theologians and commentators in interpretation of the scriptures. Truth cannot contradict truth, thus we are to accept all that scripture teaches, and hence no science can contradict this truth. It is better to leave the hidden truths unknown than misinterpreting as averred by St. Augustine.

The Pope charges all Bishops to ensure that all that have been written in this text should be implemented in their various dioceses, especially in seminaries and academic institutions. Pastors are also encouraged to approach the word of God with reverence and piety, for they are a necessary requirement for approach and understanding the scriptures better. This way the will work together to conquer the errors of human science, and make man grow in virtue. The Pope then imparts his Apostolic Benediction.